Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 166:
Javanese keris, are some of the most highly variegated objects in the world of arms and armor.Despite maintaining a distinct overall form and shape, the variation, in particular of the style ofblades is greater than any other arms and armor culture. The general form is distinctive with anasymmetrical blade and handle, called ukiran. The earliest known keris go back to the tenthcentury and most probably spread from the island of Java throughout South-East Asia. Kerisblades are usually narrow with a wide, asymmetrical base. A kerisâ€â„¢ aesthetic value is primarily inthe dhapur, or the form and design of the blade, with approximately 40 variants (UNESCO), thepamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with approximately 120 variants), andthe tangguh referring to the age and origin of a keris. Keris were worn everyday and at specialceremonies, and heirloom blades, called pusaka, are handed down through successivegenerations.On Javanese keris, the most classic style of hilt is from the Royal Palaces of Surakarta in centralJava and called a cecekan hilt in the Yudo Winatan style. This hilt has seven flat planar sides, with two carvings at internal angles of the hilt. The one nearest the pommel represents the kalamask, a benevolent demon and the small protrusion in the carving called a kuncung represents anose. Another form closely related in form is from the Palaces of Yogyakarta and is referred toas a Nunggak Semi shape, but also has the distinctive carvings on the inside angles of the handle, though generally does not have kuncung carving.This example in the Schmiedt collection is a superb quality Javanese Keris with a cecekan hilt form in the Surakarta style, Yudo Winatan. The overall high overall quality is indicated through the matched carved ukiran and wrangka with a fine aged patina. The hilt displays a fine quality of refinement in the carving and is mounted with a classic Surakarta Javanese mendak in filigreed silver. The 13 luk blade called dapor lung gandhu (Ki Empu Jhuel). The pamor is ngulit semangka, or watermelon skin, and the blade displays significant age with a worn surface from etching. The warangka (scabbard throat) of Gayaman style in the Surakarta form and with a chiseled silver pendok with floral designs.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 20" Blade Length : 14" References:1. Frey, E. (1988) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World. Oxford University Press.2. Mardianto, W. A to Z â€â€œ Sesuatu mengenai KERIS dan TOMBAK KERIS â€â€œ SENJATATRADISIONAL INDONESIA A to Z3. Ki Empu Jhuel. Pamor Keris4. Ghiringelli. V. (2007) The Invincible Krises 2. Saviolo Publisher5. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books6. Gardner, G.B. (2009) Keris and other Malay Weapons. Orchid Press7. Maisey, A. Dhapur and pamor according to Djeno Harumbrojo, Jogjakarta.Kerisattosanaji8. Marval, G.de. (1994) UKIRAN – Essai de classification des poignÃĩes de kris de l’archipelindonÃĩsien9. UNESCO. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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